Meet the Recruitment Chairs
James “Jeb” Black, MD
Why did you decide to be a recruitment chair?
I’ve been part of the EVMS community since 2020, and I got to know the program well first as a medical student, through working alongside its residents, many of whom became friends and mentors to me. This place has always felt like home, and I wanted to help carry forward the same vibes that made it such a special place to train.
Having gone through the interview process myself, I saw a chance to build on what worked and hope to make it even better for future applicants. Recruitment is a lengthy process, but I care about protecting the holistic approach—seeing applicants as real people, not just résumés. For me, this role is about service and creating the kind of welcoming, genuine experience I appreciated as an applicant.
What do you like most about the recruitment season?
My favorite part of interview season is getting to meet applicants and hear the unique paths that brought them to family medicine. Even when people match elsewhere, it's still fun to connect and hear their stories. I enjoyed meeting people at the Choose Virginia events and the AAFP conference—it’s always cool to see people fired up about this specialty.
I try to help applicants feel at ease by remembering how stressful this phase can be. It’s the culmination of years of school, and everyone’s hoping to find the right fit. I try to create space for people to just be themselves and talk about what lights them up (even outside of medicine), so we can really get to know them.
What leadership experiences did you have before residency?
Before residency, I was co-president of the Family Medicine Interest Group at EVMS alongside one of our current residents. It feels like forever ago now, but back in the M1 year, I helped with a COVID vaccine outreach effort, working to distribute vaccines in underserved communities.
Before med school, I taught biology lab sessions as a graduate teaching assistant at VCU. I’m not exactly sure how getting people to dissect frogs got me here, but I’d like to think we all take different paths to get where we’re meant to be.
What brought you to EVMS FM?
I worked closely with EVMS FM throughout my M3 and M4 years and always looked forward to those rotations. It seemed like I vibed best with the family medicine residents I met who were off service during my other rotations, too. That showed me a lot about the culture of the program and the kind of people it attracts. After building those relationships during med school, I knew EVMS felt like home, and I wanted to stay for residency. During my AI, I was impressed seeing new interns, just a month in, texting their preceptors and attendings at all hours. That kind of support and accessibility stood out. Plus, as a fourth-generation resident of Hampton Roads, staying local was important to me.
Your favorite thing to do in the Portsmouth and Norfolk areas?
I’m biased since I grew up in the 757, but there’s a lot to do around Norfolk and Portsmouth. One of the best things about where we are located is that you can drive an hour in any direction and end up somewhere completely different. The beach where I grew up is just 20 minutes away and a great spot to decompress. There are tons of local coffee shops, breweries, and great food spots close to our clinic and hospital, where any number of my co-residents can usually be found.
Plus, if you’re like me and into collecting “dead format,” there are several independent book and record stores around.
Cary Pillow, DO
Why did you decide to be a recruitment chair?
I’m very passionate about our program and saw this role as an opportunity to share what makes it special. I wanted to help introduce candidates to all that our program and the Norfolk/Portsmouth area have to offer. More importantly, I was excited to meet people from diverse backgrounds and help them determine if our program is the right fit.
What do you like most about the recruitment season?
Connecting with applicants through second look events and pre-interview socials was the highlight of last year’s season for me. I enjoy getting to know candidates from all walks of life and hearing about their own journeys in medicine.
What leadership experiences did you have before residency?
Before residency, most of my leadership experience centered around community service. I organized groups of student volunteers to staff local baseball games for children with developmental and physical disabilities through a program called Buddy Ball. I also coordinated volunteers for events hosted by the One Child Center for Autism.
What brought you to EVMS FM?
What really drew me to EVMS Family Medicine was the people. Even during the pre-interview social, I could tell that everyone was welcoming, down to earth, and supportive. I also liked that our program offers training in both a large academic hospital and a smaller community hospital, as it felt like the best way to be ready for whatever comes after residency.
Plus, I already knew and loved the Norfolk area, so it felt like a natural fit both personally and professionally.
Your favorite thing to do in the Portsmouth and Norfolk areas?
I’m a big fan of cinema, so I love catching movies at our local classic theaters, The Naro in Norfolk and The Commodore in Portsmouth. I also enjoy biking and running along the Elizabeth River Trail. It’s a great way to explore the area, and I often end up stopping at one of the many local breweries, coffee shops, or restaurants along the way. Norfolk is very pro small business, so there is an abundance of unique local restaurants to explore.
Rosetta Irons, MD
Why did you decide to be a recruitment chair?
I decided to be a recruitment chair because I believe this program has an extremely wide range of opportunities and an amazing support system for residents. It’s everything I was looking for as a medical student and I wanted to be part of sharing that with others. I recall having a great experience interacting with the recruitment chairs when I was applying to residency and I’m glad that as residents we get the chance to be so involved in the recruitment process because I think it’s important for current residents to share their experiences as the people closest in their training to medical students. I am really looking forward to the chance to work together with my co-chairs and the other residents in the program to help organize activities and sessions to get to know prospective applicants especially since this program is one I’m so proud to represent.
What do you like most about the recruitment season?
What I enjoy most about recruitment season is the wealth of opportunities it provides to connect with medical students and faculty from diverse backgrounds and experiences. It’s great to engage with so many individuals who share a genuine passion for family medicine and are exploring where they see themselves making an impact. I also find it especially rewarding to contribute to the process of showcasing the strengths of our program—whether through presentations, informal discussions, or organizing events that reflect our culture and values. I love that the excitement in the air during recruitment season is almost palpable.
What leadership experiences did you have before residency?
Before residency, I was actively involved in organizing various voluntary initiatives focused on public health awareness and basic medical screenings, particularly in underserved communities. These events included blood pressure checks, glucose screenings, vaccination drives, and educational workshops on preventive health measures. In addition to coordinating logistics and outreach, I often worked directly with patients to provide guidance and connect them with appropriate follow-up resources. I also served as a mentor to several undergraduate pre-medical students, offering support through academic advising and medical school application preparation. These experiences really helped to reinforce the importance of community engagement, mentorship, and education in medicine.
What brought you to EVMS Family Medicine?
I was drawn to EVMS FM not only because of its proximity to my hometown, but also the diverse patient population in the Hampton Road area and how positive and supportive of a culture the program has. I had the chance to interact with previous senior residence during the AAFP conference as a medical student, and it was apparent then how welcoming the residents and faculty at the program were. I was also impressed by the fact that the program has both community and academic hospitals and thought that would allow for a unique and well-rounded learning experience. There’s also no shortage of fun things to do in the Hampton Road area so there’s never a dull moment when I’m not working!
Your favorite thing to do in the Portsmouth and Norfolk areas?
There are so many options for fun things in the area. It’s hard to pick just one favorite. So far, I’ve probably spent the most time just exploring all the neighborhoods and restaurants with my co-residents. I’ve also really love checking out all the little boutiques, going to the zoo, the botanical gardens, and Busch Gardens! While I haven’t tried it yet, Pickleball is also quickly becoming a program favorite.